Scouting MLS: Five Profiles Worth Watching in 2026
Introduction
For years, the narrative around Major League Soccer has been predictable: aging stars arriving from Europe and South America for one last payday, with little going in the opposite direction. That narrative is changing. The 2025/26 transfer window brought fresh evidence that MLS is increasingly functioning as a development ground for young players capable of competing at the highest level, and European clubs are paying attention.
Three recent transfers make the point clearly. Alex Freeman (born 2004), a right-back developed at Orlando City, joined Villarreal in January 2026 for €3.5 million plus bonuses. Obed Vargas (born 2005), a defensive midfielder from Seattle, signed for Atlético Madrid in February 2026 for €3 million. Brian Gutierrez (born 2003), an attacking midfielder at Chicago Fire, moved to Chivas Guadalajara for €4.25 million at the start of 2026. Three young players, three exits, and a clear signal that MLS-developed talent has a market.
The question now is: who could be next?
Using performance data from the 2025 MLS season, we identified five young players worth monitoring as the new season gets underway: profiles that combine age, statistical output, and positional value in ways that tend to attract European interest.
Ones to Watch
Olwethu Makhanya — Centre-back, Philadelphia Union
Born: 30/04/2004 | Nationality: South Africa
Height: 1.88m | Market value: €2M | Pref. Foot: Right
Makhanya arrived at Philadelphia Union in July 2023 from Stellenbosch FC for €445,000, a relatively modest investment that looks increasingly shrewd. Across 30 appearances (24 starts, 2,507 minutes), he has established himself as one of the more reliable defensive presences in the league. He ranks fourth among MLS centre-backs for balls recovered per 90 minutes and ninth for duels won per 90 minutes, with an overall duel success rate of 65%. At 21, with a contract running until December 2027, he represents a profile that European clubs at the mid-tier level could reasonably target in the coming windows, particularly those in need of a physically dominant, ball-winning centre-back.
Luca Bombino — Left-back, San Diego FC
Born: 10/07/2006 | Nationality: United States
Height: 1.76m | Market value: €2.5M | Pref. Foot: Left
Bombino is arguably the most interesting value story in this group. Originally on loan at San Diego from LAFC during the 2025 season, he was permanently signed for just €173,000 at the start of 2026, a fee that looks almost certain to seem cheap within a few years. In 31 appearances (29 starts, 2,806 minutes), the 19-year-old showed a profile that goes beyond the typical defensive fullback: high tackle volume including in the attacking half, strong presence in the final third, and a notable number of progressive passes. His contract runs until June 2029, giving San Diego significant leverage, but also giving Bombino the time to build on what was already an impressive first full season.
Taha Habroune — Central Midfielder, Columbus Crew
Born: 05/02/2006 | Nationality: United States
Height: 1.82m | Market value: €400K | Pref. Foot: Right
Of the five profiles here, Habroune is in the earliest-stage in his development. An academy product at Columbus Crew, he made 21 appearances in 2025, only 7 as a starter, totalling 825 minutes, but the underlying numbers are worth noting. He led all MLS central midfielders in tackles won per 90 minutes and duels won in the attacking half, while also averaging 2 passes per game ending in the opposition penalty area. That combination of defensive intensity and forward involvement at 19, across limited minutes, points to a player with significant upside. His market value of €400K reflects his limited exposure so far, but that figure is likely to shift quickly if he earns more regular minutes in 2026.
Jack McGlynn — Right Winger, Houston Dynamo
Born: 07/07/2003 | Nationality: United States
Height: 1.83m | Market value: €5M | Pref. Foot: Left
McGlynn is the most complete profile in this group in terms of current output. Across 26 appearances (all starts, 2,552 minutes), he recorded 6 goals and 7 assists, numbers that would draw attention in most European leagues. His passing statistics are particularly striking: among all MLS wingers, he ranked first for total passes, completed passes, passes into the opposition penalty area, and completed passes into the opposition penalty area. He also posted strong numbers for key passes, expected assists, and crosses. At 22 and already capped 13 times for the US national team, McGlynn is arguably already at the point where a move to Europe is a realistic short-term prospect rather than a long-term ambition.
David Martinez — Right Winger, Los Angeles FC
Born: 07/02/2006 | Nationality: Venezuela
Height: 1.78m | Market value: €4M | Pref. Foot: Left
Martinez joined LAFC from Venezuelan side Monegas SC in February 2024 for €3 million, a significant outlay for a player who was 17 at the time, and a clear reflection of how highly he was already regarded. In his first full MLS season he made 29 appearances (13 starts, 1,299 minutes) and recorded 6 assists, averaging one every 216 minutes. His game is built on dribbling and creativity rather than volume: he does not dominate possession statistics the way McGlynn does, but in terms of direct contribution to chances created when on the pitch, he is among the most efficient players in his age group in the league. At 20, with a contract until December 2027, he is at the start of what could be a significant trajectory.
Conclusion
The 2025 MLS season adds further evidence to a trend that is becoming difficult to ignore: the league is producing young players who are attracting genuine interest from European clubs, not as curiosities, but as competitive transfer targets. Freeman, Vargas and Gutierrez were not isolated cases; they are the visible part of a broader shift in how the league is developing and positioning talent.
The five profiles above are at different stages of that journey. Some, like McGlynn, may be ready for a European move sooner rather than later. Others, like Habroune and Bombino, are ones to track across the 2026 season. What they share is a statistical profile that stands out within MLS, and increasingly, that is enough to put a player on a European scout's radar.
